The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-12-22


Senator Hawley said :--
Mr. HAwLEY--I will vote in any d.
recti0n to bring about res0lute attempt
t. give us a revision Of the tariff. |
say that as representing protective
constituency. lam for resolute, di-
rect, immediate action in the direc-
tion of II wise revision of the tariff,
whether by q commission or by the
usual mode. The gradual change in
business in many directions the
changes in process of manufacture,
the cheapening Of production and Il
hundred things that l need not speci-
fy--have brought it to pass that the
present tariff 8 a machine verysmuch
out Of gear. 1t hurts American manu-
facturers in some things, favoring the
foreign manufacturers. In short, it is
inevitable, it is to be seen without ar
gument, that in the progress Of the
country tariff, no matter how wisely
drawn, must require revision.
Mr.. Brrrough. OF MICHIGAN, said -
Mr.. BURRoUGHs-Upon the first prop
ositiOn-t0.wit, the necessity for u
revision of the taritf-there seems to
be no contrariety OF opinion. All par
ties, men of every shade OF belief from
the high protectiOnist to the extreme
free trader. all unite in demanding u
rcadjustment Of the present tariff.
1t would be easy but tiresome to
quote yet other republicans who favor.
ed and urged tariff revision, and for
precisely the same objects as we're pre.
sented in the message.
All that was five--nearly six years
ago. The Tariff Con. mission bill was
passed in republican Congress by re-
publican votes, and the commission
was appointed by q republican Pres
ident. 1t consisted of two representa-
tives OF the wool and woollen interest,
one OF iron and steel, one OF cotton and
it's manufacture, one Of pottery, one OF
sugar and only one OF agriculture,
with one other, general protection
ist. All the members except perhaps
one were protectionists, and all but
three were republicans. These gen.
tlemen took good square look at the
: tariff and unanimously reported tn
Congress that there ought to be an
average reduction Of duties not less
than twenty per cent. They said -
The average reduction in rates, in
cluding that from the enlargement
Of the free list and the abolition of the
duties on charges and commissions, AT
which the commission has aimed, il
not less on the average than twenty
per cent, and it ia the opinion of the
commission that the reduction will
reach twenty-five per cent The re-
duction, slight in some cases, in 9th
ers not attempted, is in many cases
from forty to fifty per cent.
They added ALSO
In the mechanical and manufactur.
ing industries, especially those which
have been long established, it would
seem that the improvements in ma.
chinery and processes made within the
last twenty years, aud the high scale
Of productiveness which has become n
characteristic of their establishments
would permit our manufacturers tn
, compete with their foreign rivals un-
der substantial reduction of existing
duties.
These republican protectiOnists de-
manded precisely what the Presidents
message recommends, "a substantial
reduction of tariffduties." They say -
/ A substantial reduction Of tariff du
ties is demanded, not by mere indis
criminste popular clam'f, but by thu
best conservative opinion OF the coun
try, including that which has in form
er times been most strenuous for the
preservation OF our national industrial
, defences. Such reduction of the ex
+ listing tariff the commission regard,
/ not only as due recognition Of pub
= lie sentiment and measure of justict
to consumers, hut one conducive u
: the general industrial prosperity, and
which, though it may be temporarily
inconvenient, be ultimately beneficial
to the special interests affected BY
> such reduction. No rates OF defensive
duties, except for the establishment 0i
, new industries, which more than equal
: ize the conditions Of labor and capital
with those Of foreign competitors, can
. be justified. Excessive duties, or
. those above such standard Of fequaliza
ton, are positively injurious To the in
terests which they are supposed t.
D benefit.
If President Cleveland had based
= his message on the uttersnces Of re
: publican Senator and Representatives
r the leaders Of that party, and on th'
! conclusion of the republican Tariff
: commission, it would not differ in an,
r material point from its present shape
= The democrats in that Congress gener
ally opposed the commission, prefer
ring direct action ON the tariff by th'
n House and such AZ the President nov
:. recommends. Mr.. Mckinley ant
4 other republicans agreed with them il
e this. Mr., Mckinley said -
# Mr.. MCKINLEY, of Ohio-My owl
/ preference would be that Congress
y should do this work and delegate II,
J. part of it to commissioners or commit
is tees unknown in this body.
9 The republicans in Congress refus
ed in 1883 and ever since to ceot ,h
rarnm nhnndnfinna 1,f thnir nur, nn,,,